Managing for Tomorrow: A Climate Adaptation Decision Framework

Kristen L. Bouska, Joshua Booker, Suzi Clark, John Delaney, Josh Eash, Max Post van der Burg, Heidi Roop

Posted on: 5/01/2025 - Updated on: 6/02/2025

Posted by

Kristen Bouska

Published

2025-04

Abstract

Climate change presents new and compounding challenges to natural resource management. With changing climate patterns, managers are confronted with difficult decisions on how to minimize climate effects on habitats, infrastructure, and wildlife populations.

To support climate adaptation decision making, we first conceptualized an approach that integrates the principles of the resist–accept–direct framework, climate scenario planning, and decision analysis into a general framework to support adaptation planning. This framework was implemented and refined by working with three National Wildlife Refuge System refuges within the Midwest Region.

The objectives of this report are to describe the climate adaptation decision framework and provide guidance for how to apply the framework to support transparent, consistent, and decision-focused adaptation planning. We include a workbook to support the application of each step of the framework as well as lessons learned from our experiences developing the framework.

The climate adaptation decision framework has wide applicability to aid adaptation planning within natural resource management and underscores the important role of engaging interest groups in climate adaptation decisions.

Citation

Bouska, K.L., Booker, J., Clark, S., Delaney, J., Eash, J., Post van der Burg, M., and Roop, H., 2025, Managing for tomorrow—A climate adaptation decision framework: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2025–1005, 53 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20251005.

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Affiliated Organizations

Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (MW CASC)

Established in 2021, the Midwest CASC (MW CASC) provides regionally-relevant scientific information, tools, and techniques to resource managers and communities in Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. It is based at host institution University of Minnesota and is a consortium of research-focused academic, Tribal, and non-profit partners working collaboratively with the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

University of Minnesota

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

The USGS is a science organization that provides impartial information on the health of our ecosystems and environment, the natural hazards that threaten us, the natural resources we rely on, the impacts of climate and land-use change, and the core science systems that help us provide timely, relevant, and useable information.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the premier government agency dedicated to the conservation, protection, and enhancement of fish, wildlife and plants, and their habitats. It is the only agency in the federal government whose primary responsibility is management of these important natural resources for the American public. The Service also helps ensure a healthy environment for people through its work benefiting wildlife, and by providing opportunities for Americans to enjoy the outdoors and our shared natural heritage.